Heavy rain red alert: TN govt asks officials to take all precautionary steps, people to be evacuated

In view of the red alert issued for rains, the Tamil Nadu government has asked its officials to be on toes and to take all precautionary measures to ensure the safety of people.

If needed, people in low lying areas will be evacuated to safe places, sources said.

A low pressure area is likely form over the Southeast Arabian sea on Friday and could intensify into a cyclonic storm, the regional weather office said Thursday and warned fishermen against venturing into the sea.

Rains were likely in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next three days, with the possibility of heavy rainfall in one or two places, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, S Balachandran told reporters.

The met office said on October seven heavy to very heavy rain, with extremely heavy falls, were likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu and Kerala and heavy rain at isolated places over Coastal Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

The sea conditions were expected to be rough to very rough over South and central Arabian Sea. Fishermen were advised not to venture into these areas.

Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary got to know about the situations in all the districts from respective Collectors. She has also informed them to keep all relief camps ready in case of heavy rains and destruction.

Due to sudden intense rains Thursday, holiday was announced for schools in five districts: Thiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Salem and Puducherry union territory.